Shop Lighting Calculator
Estimate the total lumens needed for your workshop space.
Good lighting is one of the most important but frequently overlooked aspects of a safe and effective workshop. Proper lighting reduces eye strain, improves accuracy, and dramatically increases safety by ensuring you can clearly see your tools, workpieces, and any potential hazards. This calculator helps you determine the total amount of light (measured in lumens) you need for your space.
Different tasks require different levels of brightness. General assembly and moving around the shop requires less light than detailed work like finishing or joinery. This tool uses IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) recommendations to help you plan a lighting layout that is bright, even, and appropriate for your specific needs.
The calculation is based on the area of your shop and the recommended brightness for your primary activity.
- Measure Your Space: Determine the length and width of your workshop in feet to find the total square footage.
- Select Activity Level: Choose the type of work you primarily do in the space. The recommended lumens per square foot (a measure of illuminance) changes based on the task's detail level.
- Calculate Total Lumens: The calculator multiplies the shop's area by the recommended lumens per square foot for your chosen activity.
Total Lumens = Area (sq ft) × Lumens per Square Foot
- Lumen (lm): The standard unit of luminous flux, or the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. This is the most important metric for brightness.
- Foot-candle: A unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square foot. This is what the activity levels in the calculator are based on.
- Color Temperature (Kelvin): A measure of the color appearance of a light source. For workshops, a neutral daylight temperature of 5000K is generally recommended.
- CRI (Color Rendering Index): A measure of how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects. A CRI of 90+ is recommended for finishing areas.
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Always double-check your measurements before cutting.
Account for the kerf (the width of the saw blade) in your calculations.
Consider wood movement (expansion and contraction) in your final dimensions.
Buy 10-15% extra material to account for mistakes and waste.